Globe Telecom launches SMS REPLY-ALL service with SMS GupShup

Revolutionary new service enables text-savvy Filipinos to do group messaging

Santa Clara, CA / Mumbai, India (7th September 2010): SMS GupShup, the world’s largest Social SMS network, today announced that it has entered into a partnership with Globe Telecom to launch the SMS Reply-All Chat service in the Philippines. Globe is one of the Philippines’ leading telecommunication companies, and the service will enable its subscribers to simultaneously communicate with multiple people using SMS. SMS Reply-All is simple and easy to use, similar to the CC and reply-all features on email.

The SMS Reply-All Chat service extends the capabilities of SMS from basic person-to-person (P2P) messaging to many-to-many (M-to-M) messaging. Similar to the commonly used “CC” and “Reply-All” features on e-mail, Globe’s SMS Reply-All Chat service service works on every handset, is easy to use, requires no training, no software downloads, no data connectivity nor a change in handset. Globe subscribers will find it easier to be more social–whether they are organizing parties, meetings or any other activity that requires coordination among multiple individuals. Instead of relaying and forwarding messages from one person in the group to the other, everyone in a group can update everyone else at the same time with the SMS Reply-All Chat service from Globe.

“Our vision at Globe has been to simplify communications and make it more relevant to our customers’ needs. We are excited to launch a simple and useful service like Reply-All in partnership with a global technology leader like SMS Gupshup,” said Rina Azcuna-Siongco, Head of Value-Added Services at Globe Telecom.

Beerud Sheth, CEO of SMS GupShup, is optimistic that the SMS Reply-All Chat service will gain a strong following in the Philippines’ market, which is widely described as the “texting capital of the world.” In fact, a recent study by UK-based Portio Research showed that each Filipino mobile phone user sends as many as 788 text messages per month, or over 40% more than their counterparts in the United States.

“SMS Reply-All is the next big innovation in mobile messaging since person-to-person (P2P) SMS, making social communications via SMS quick and easy,” said Sheth. “We’re excited to launch this service in partnership with a market leader like Globe Telecom, a company that is quick to bring newer and more innovative services to their subscribers.”

About Globe Telecom
Globe is a leading full service telecommunications company in the Philippines, serving the needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connections, internet and managed services. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecom who are acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.

About SMS GupShup
SMS GupShup is the world’s largest Social SMS service that allows users to communicate and connect with family, friends and fans using mobile handsets. SMS GupShup extends the capabilities of p2p sms technology to social messaging including 1-to-many, many-to-many and many-to-1 communication, thereby enabling social interactions on sms, the only medium that reaches 4 billion users worldwide. Launched in April 2007, it is used by 35 million users in over 3 million communities.

Brands and enterprises use the SMS GupShup platform for their mobile marketing needs including advertising and customer engagement. Carriers use the reply-all capability of SMS GupShup to increase ARPU and loyalty of their subscriber base. SMS GupShup also sells premium content and services to consumers. Founded by seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and incubated at the IIT Bombay Business Incubator, the company is funded by Charles River Ventures, Helion Ventures and Globespan Capital. To know more details visit www.smsgupshup.com